Martin to choose between quality and western sprawl

One sign points toward a “quality path;” a second points the way to urban sprawl. It’s the first slide in the Guardians’ “Martin County at the Crossroads” show now on the road in Martin.

Sally Swartz

The Guardians, a group of residents who defend the county’s urban boundary and its protective growth plan, sponsor the presentation. About 100 Jupiter Island residents and more than 60 who attended a recent Martin County Conservation Alliance meeting have seen it, and it’s now available to other county groups.

For new residents or Snowbirds, it’s a quick history lesson in how Martin became a haven for nature-lovers and a statewide example for sensible growth planning. The show also details the impacts of proposed growth plan changes that would allow two huge developments, Hobe Grove and Harmony, to create a city larger than Stuart west of Hobe Sound.

Martin’s quality of life, he said, “makes us want to stay.” He cites lower foreclosure, unemployment and crime rates as well as better schools and lower taxes that are a result of the county’s strict growth rules.

Martin looks different from its neighbors because of its four story building height limit, wetlands protections, rules allowing only one unit per 20 acres on rural land, and insistence on keeping growth inside the urban boundary, where services are available.

Comparing photos and site plans of Walmarts in St. Lucie and Martin, a rule requiring developers in Martin to preserve 25 percent of native habitat is easy to see. St. Lucie’s is surrounded by paved parking lots; Martin’s is bordered by trees and green space that provide pleasant views from the big box store and paved areas and give birds and other wildlife places to live.
Gov. Scott and the Legislature last year abolished protections conservationists worked 40 years to provide, killing the state growth management agency and requirements that developers pay for growth and make developments financially feasible. So local rules become even more important.

Mr. Braun outlined plans for the developments west of Hobe Sound. Hobe Grove plans 4,300 homes on 2,823 acres, along with 3.9 million square feet of space for mixed use and higher education. It would use 3.8 million gallons of water per day and need 144 miles of roads at a cost of almost $220 million. The developer has offered to pay $16.3 million toward roads; residents would pay the rest.

Harmony developers want 4,000 homes on 2,717 acres, with 1.3 million square feet for corporate headquarters, 600,000 square feet of retail and commercial space and would use 1.3 million gallons of water per day.

Both developers have promised jobs and Hobe Grove promises a university, but neither has any specific employers or universities committed.

The town of Jupiter is concerned about excessive retail, office and research space in the developments that could compete with land already set aside for Scripps and related development in Palm Beach County. The town also is worried about impact on beaches and boat ramps, and is drafting a resolution to detail its concerns.

Martin can learn from the mistakes its neighbors have made, Mr. Braun said, citing a St. Lucie County entrepreneur who promised luxury homes, a 36-hole golf course and clubhouse. Now the houses are in foreclosure and the developer is bankrupt.

While neither of the proposed Hobe Sound developments is likely to be approved before the August primary election, both are moving toward local and regional consideration.